Mahindra XUV 3XO Drives Well But Noticed Two Flaws

It’s been a few days now since the launch of the Mahindra XUV 3XO. We have driven the SUV and shared initial impressions on our Youtube channel. Driving the XUV 3XO extensively, we have noticed a few factors which could be important to you as a buyer. Yes, the SUV surely drives better and has some useful features, that are sure to Wow you. However, it does come with two major flaws and one of them could stop you from buying it for your family! So check out our entire Mahindra XUV 3XO Review.

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Mahindra XUV 3XO Review – Pros

Now before getting into the flaws let’s talk about some positives. After all it’s a new SUV then why not start with some good factors!

Driving Pleasure

One of the key reasons to buy the XUV 3XO should be the driving pleasure that the SUV offers. As we all know the SUV has been built on the Ssangyong Tivoli’s platform and the magic can be felt. The platform has been tuned so well that each time I was hitting the triple digit speed mark, I had to look at the instrument cluster to confirm the speed. The chassis keeps the SUV rock solid at any kind of speeds you drive.

Beautiful Handling

What’s the icing on the cake is the 3X0’s car like handling! Now the XUV 3XO comes with three drive modes – Zip, Zap, Zoom. The Zoom mode is the most aggressive mode as it delivers all the power the engine produces. However, with the Zoom mode enabled, even the steering wheel weighs up nicely and offers more feedback to the driver. Changing lanes is not an issue as the steering wheel and the chassis allows you to drive aggressively. The combination is so damn good that it felt like driving a Go Kart!

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Mahindra XUV 3XO Review – Excellent Performance

What is the use of a stable platform and perfect handling if the engine is lethargic? Mahindra has taken care of it! The XUV 3XO is the fastest SUV in its segment, thanks to the 1.2-litre TGDi engine. This engine produces 129bhp and 230Nm of peak torque, mated to a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. The variant we drove came with the automatic transmission.

Talking about the engine, it is a power-packed unit from Mahindra. It feels eager right from the standstill and keeps on going as the speed increases. Also, it’s a refined unit which transfers no vibrations but becomes louder – in a sporty way – once you push the accelerator harder. Mahindra claims that the XUV 3XO can go from 0 to 60 in 4.4 seconds. However, we feel the 3XO does that even quicker! What makes driving the 3XO even better is the 6-speed AT gearbox. It is a smooth shifting unit and you will not feel a jerk even once. In fact the transmission does its job so beautifully that you might end up feeling you are driving a DCT car!

Interior, Features, Space

Inside, the 3XO gets a black and white colour theme to make the SUV more airy. Do not maintaining the white interior will be a difficult task given the Indian climate. In our short time experiencing the car, stains were clearly visible on touch surfaces like the front armrest and front sear back rests.

The dashboard design is very conventional with a floating touchscreen infotainment unit. Overall material quality fells premium with soft touch treatment to the entire dashboard. Even the door pads for that matter gets soft to touch materials which definitely feels premium. Hopping into the driver seat we couldn’t stop appreciating them! They are extremely supportive and comfortable, and keep you in place while driving.

In terms of features, the XUV 3XO has a lot to offer. There are few features that no other competitor gets! You must already be aware of them but we are sharing it here again. The new 3XO gets Level-2 ADAS, panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, 17-inch alloy wheels, 10.25-inch touchscreen system, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a few more. Additionally, Mahindra will enable wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay on the SUV through a software update.

Finally, the space the 3XO offers is just excellent. It is the widest car in the segment and has maximum space at the back. And it was when we sat in the back seat of the XUV 3XO that the we noticed the first major flaw!

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Mahindra XUV 3XO Review – Cons

Average Rear Seat Experience

Like the front seats, the rear seats of the XUV 3X0 is spacious and soft. While the overall cushioning is soft and sinks you into the seat, the overall support on offer is not adequate. While they are excellent for short city drives, you will feel the lack of under thigh support and lower back support on highway drives. In comparison the Tata Nexon has the best rear seats which are stiffer and offer excellent back and under thigh support. Despite this, the 3XO offers better seats compared to competition cars like the Kia Sonet and the Hyundai Venue.

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Paddle Shifters Are A Big Miss!

In the Pros section we mentioned how well the SUV drives. We talked about the performance, the handling, and the solid ride quality. However, what we really missed while enjoying the punchy performance of the XUV 3XO are the paddle shifters! Other SUVs in its segment like the Maruti Brezza, Kia Sonet and even the Tata Nexon offer paddle shifters on select variants and powertrains, but Mahindra has decided to completely skip this feature.

While the engine is amply powerful and the gearshifts are smooth, it is during that sudden overtake that you miss paddle shifters. The gearbox does offer manual mode on the lever, but paddle shifters could have enhanced the sporty characteristics of the SUV even more.

Note:

In addition to the above mentioned points, we also faced issues with the ADAS system of the XUV 3XO. But Mahindra confirmed that the software is currently under beta testing and will be updated by the time customer model start shipping. While the overall hardware has been carried forward from the XUV700, the software has been recalibrated for the smaller car.

So based on the above pros and cons, what do you think about the Mahindra XUV 3X0? If you ask our opinion, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is a complete pack of technology, power and refinement. While it is not a 10/10, it surely is 9.5+. So if you are in the market for a compact SUV, then we suggest you consider the XUV 3XO as an option.

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